Post topper



Oct. 6, 1925.

F. J. DAVY ET AL POST TOPPER Filed Sept. 29'.

Patented Oct. 6, 1925 umTrain fs'rAresv FPATENTp-OFFICE.

mam: IT. IDAVYQAND JOSEPH r. Nmmcnncx, or A cn'ossn, WISCONSIN.

ros TOPPER. V

Application fileuis tmber 29, 1923. iSeria1No.'65,58 8.

To all whom z't'may,co rwern:

Be it known that we","FRANK J ,DAVY' and Josnrrr T. NEMAGHECK, both citizens of the United States, and residents of La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse and'State of VVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Post Toppers; and we do hereby declare that'the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

This invention pertains to a device for trimming the tops of posts, such as fence posts and the like, and has primarily for its object the provision of a simple, inexpensive and eflicient device of the above character, which is manually operable and quickly p0- sitioned on or'detached from the post, thereby trimming the top of the same after it has been set.

A more specific object resides in the provision of a detachable bracket member and a cutting member rotatively and slidably carried thereby and provided with a circular knife adapted to engage the top of a post and shape the same upon suitable manual actuation of the cutting member.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2, and

Figure 2 is a transverse, sectional view looking down on the line 2.2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the cutting member illustrating the preferred structure of knives.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the form of the invention illustrated consists primarily of an attaching bracket 1 adapted to be secured to the top of the fence post F, indicated by dotted lines, and a cutter member 2 slidably and rotatably carried by the braket 1.

The bracket 1, which is adapted to be positioned over the top of the post, is designed :in' 'the formof' a bell provided at its lower edge with an annular band '3 which is connected by means of the vertical arms 4 with theho'od'top 5, thus forming the openings6 which allow the operation of the cutter to be viewed, and also'permit the shavings to be readily discharged from the work. The hood 5 is provided with a central extension 6 which forms a bearing in which the stud 7 is slidably and rotatably journaled.

In that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the cutting member 2 is of a spherical cup shape provided with a spiral slot 8, to one edge of which is'suitably secured a circular knife 9 which projects inwardly of the slot sufficiently to engage the top of the post and perform the cutting operation. The cutting member 2 is threaded,

or otherwise suitably secured, to the lower end of the stud 7, which stud is provided at its upper end with a handle 10, to permit the desired manual operation.

For the purpose of detachably mounting the bracket 1 on the top of the post F, the annular band 3 is provided at spaced intervals with thumb screws 11 which engage the post and hold the bracket rigidly during the cutting ope1 ation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a very simple, economical device has been provided by means of which fence posts, or the like, may be quickly topped after they have been set. A further advantage of the device resides in the fact that topping of the posts after they'have been set permits an even line to be maintained by reason of the fact that the posts may be set up and cut ofl to a string line, after which, by means of the present invention, they may be toppedin a minimum period of time, the only operation necessary being that of securing the bracket on the top of the post by means of the screws 11, in which position the cutter head 2 engages the flat end of the post. Only a few turns of the handle 10 with a slight pressure downwardly are then required to complete the cutting operation and shaping of the post.

While we have shown and described a one piece circular cutting tool, it will be understood that the same may be constructed in any desired shape and furnished with blades of various contours, without departing from the invention, as, for instance, in Figure 3, wherein we have illustrated the preferred llO structure of cutting knives, the same are -formed into two sections 12 having slotted connect-ion with the cutter member 2, where by they may be adjusted inwardly or out-, wardly by means of the screws 13 threaded into the cutter and having their heads engageable with the outer edge of the knives. This permits a desired takeup for Wear.

We claim A device of the character described comprising a bracket adapted to surround the top of a post, means for securing said bracket on the post, a spherical shaped cup member rotatable and slidable within said bracket and provided with an arcuate slot extending downwardly at an angle to and outwardly from the axis of rotation of said cup shaped member, and a cutting knife secured to said cup shaped member" and conforming to the contour thereof, said knife having its cutting edge extending through said slot. 7

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands at La Crosse, in the county of La Crosse and State of VVisconsin.

JOSEPH T. NEMACHECK. FRANK J. D-AVY. 

